Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
School Sanitation
Review of design of school facilities in DCs showed that these designs often
need improvement in two important aspects:
1. Provision of a handwashing basin at the exit from the school toilets, espe-
cially when dry latrine - type toilets are used, arranged (with monitoring
supervision by a school staff member) so that the exiting students must
pass this basin and use it to wash their hands, so that their excreta is not
passed on to others, especially during periods of recess playing
160
.
2. Location of school toilets as far as possible from school dining rooms. In
the Philippines in the 1980s, it was found that school design manuals often
placed dry latrine toilets next to the dining areas
49
.
Hazard of Flies
The
Bangkok Post
newspaper published on article on February 2, 1991
19
that has
proven to be of value in getting DC officials to understand the need for control
of flies. The article reads as follows:
Our Gulf war correspondent faxed us an ad for a pest control firm published in
an English-language newspaper in Saudi Arabia. It says: “This is what happens
when a fly lands on your food. Flies can't eat solid food, so to soften it up they
vomit on it. Then they stamp the vomit in until it's a liquid, usually stamping in
a few germs for good measure. Then when its' good and runny they suck it all
back again, probably dropping some excrement at the same time. And then, when
they've finished eating, it's your turn. Had your breakfast yet?”
Septic Tanks for Coastal Homes on Stilts
A common pollution problem in DCs with homes built on stilts over nearshore
coastal waters (e.g., in Malaysia) is how to manage pollution from sewage dis-
charged from these homes. The recommended solution is to install a septic tank
under the home, with a 24-hour retention period, which removes the waste com-
ponents that if discharged are really objectionable, namely floatable and settleable
materials
35
. The net discharge contains only soluble/colloidal pollutants, which
generally are readily absorbed by the coastal waters. Provision must be made for
a desludging service to be available for periodic tank dislodging (average about
every 10 years).
Water Treatment for Homes Using Surface Waters
One of the suggestions prepared for assisting the National Environment Board
of Thailand in the 1970s for improving the health of villagers who take their
water supply from ponds or klongs (canals), which is common practice for many
rural villages in the country, is for distribution to these homes (free or at low
